Flight 752
Dreams are funny things. It’s amazing how unrelated events can get tied together and how, through our dreams, hidden truths can be revealed.
Char and I enjoyed a great trip over Christmas to see the kids. We really did have a good time and everything went according to plan until we were to leave. That’s when our return flight was canceled. We were to be home the morning on December 30 but the airlines informed us we would be in Illinois until the sixth of January as that was the earliest they could get us on a flight. That was totally unacceptable. The next morning at the airport, we decided to rent a car and drive back. Driving out of town I kept thinking, “I’m in a rental car while I have two perfectly good cars sitting in the garage at home.”
When we got to Nebraska, Cliff and Marilyn took pity on us and we spent a couple of days hanging out at the farm waiting for a storm to pass and the roads to clear before we headed into Colorado. On the road to Colorado, the lady who was watching our house sent us a text message saying one of our cars had a flat tire. Not exactly what you want to hear but it could have been worse.
Arriving home I walked into the garage and yep, the tire was flat – really flat. We’ve had flat tires before and the place we take them to be repaired is only a couple blocks away. Instead of changing the tire I have always pumped them up by hand with a bicycle pump. But this time I looked at that tire and thought to myself, “I’m getting too old to pump up car tires with a bicycle pump.”
So, the search for a small, affordable air compressor started. Amazingly, I was able to locate one for under $40. I was ecstatic. I pumped up the tire, drove two blocks and had the tire repaired.
So what does all this have to do with dreams? The dream happened last night.
In my dream Char and I are on an airplane. Abruptly over the intercom came the announcement, “Ladies and gentlemen this is the captain of flight 752. I don’t want to alarm you but we have a dilemma. If anyone has an air compressor we could sure use it. We have a flat tire and won’t be able to successfully land the aircraft until we get some air in that tire. If you have an air compressor please tell one of the stewardesses and thank you for flying flight 752.”
Suddenly people were running around the airplane yelling, screaming, and crying. They evidently didn’t realize the fasten seat belt sign was still illuminated.
I looked at one of the stewardess and said, “I have an air compressor.” But she was frantically trying to get people back in their seats. Looking behind me I spotted the other stewardess. I waved my hand and said, “I have an air compressor.” She just smiled and continued walking up the aisle collected used coffee cups and pop cans in a plastic bag.
All of the sudden I was awake sitting on the edge of the sofa. I don’t think I was sweating but my breathing was rapid and shallow. I bolted up the stairs to share my dream with Char. Yes, I was talking pretty fast and swinging my arms in the air but she really didn’t need to laugh as hard as she did.Two unrelated events got tied together. But what was the hidden truth? I occurred to me later that night. No one at the airlines wants to listen to the flying public especially during the Holidays.
Char and I enjoyed a great trip over Christmas to see the kids. We really did have a good time and everything went according to plan until we were to leave. That’s when our return flight was canceled. We were to be home the morning on December 30 but the airlines informed us we would be in Illinois until the sixth of January as that was the earliest they could get us on a flight. That was totally unacceptable. The next morning at the airport, we decided to rent a car and drive back. Driving out of town I kept thinking, “I’m in a rental car while I have two perfectly good cars sitting in the garage at home.”
When we got to Nebraska, Cliff and Marilyn took pity on us and we spent a couple of days hanging out at the farm waiting for a storm to pass and the roads to clear before we headed into Colorado. On the road to Colorado, the lady who was watching our house sent us a text message saying one of our cars had a flat tire. Not exactly what you want to hear but it could have been worse.
Arriving home I walked into the garage and yep, the tire was flat – really flat. We’ve had flat tires before and the place we take them to be repaired is only a couple blocks away. Instead of changing the tire I have always pumped them up by hand with a bicycle pump. But this time I looked at that tire and thought to myself, “I’m getting too old to pump up car tires with a bicycle pump.”
So, the search for a small, affordable air compressor started. Amazingly, I was able to locate one for under $40. I was ecstatic. I pumped up the tire, drove two blocks and had the tire repaired.
So what does all this have to do with dreams? The dream happened last night.
In my dream Char and I are on an airplane. Abruptly over the intercom came the announcement, “Ladies and gentlemen this is the captain of flight 752. I don’t want to alarm you but we have a dilemma. If anyone has an air compressor we could sure use it. We have a flat tire and won’t be able to successfully land the aircraft until we get some air in that tire. If you have an air compressor please tell one of the stewardesses and thank you for flying flight 752.”
Suddenly people were running around the airplane yelling, screaming, and crying. They evidently didn’t realize the fasten seat belt sign was still illuminated.
I looked at one of the stewardess and said, “I have an air compressor.” But she was frantically trying to get people back in their seats. Looking behind me I spotted the other stewardess. I waved my hand and said, “I have an air compressor.” She just smiled and continued walking up the aisle collected used coffee cups and pop cans in a plastic bag.
All of the sudden I was awake sitting on the edge of the sofa. I don’t think I was sweating but my breathing was rapid and shallow. I bolted up the stairs to share my dream with Char. Yes, I was talking pretty fast and swinging my arms in the air but she really didn’t need to laugh as hard as she did.Two unrelated events got tied together. But what was the hidden truth? I occurred to me later that night. No one at the airlines wants to listen to the flying public especially during the Holidays.
posted by Ralph at 10:57 PM
7 Comments:
First of all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It is about time you surfaced. Now your long absence and your nightmare are totally understandable. We did think everyone owned an air compressor.
Good to hear you're all well and aired up.
So what are we going to hear about in the new year here? More recipes and tales of the cooking class? Golfing antics? Grandchildren? Looking forward to more of your chuckle inducing stories. Oh, and your jokes.
Ralph, You're the voice of reason even in your own mind er I meant dreams.
Are you certain you didn't leave some of the highlights of the trip out?
Cliff
What did I leave out?
* The fact that I almost knocked myself out in a bathroom stall while throwing up at the airport?
* The fact that I bought my first pair of insulated underwear in over 30 years?
* The fact that the guy on the airline reservation phone and I are no longer on speaking terms?
What?
Ralph
Were you a boyscout? Even in your dreams, you're always prepared. *G*
Ever the hero!
And getting stranded stinks, but I'm glad you got some Cliff and Marilyn time - that sounds like the perfect way to start the new year!
Ralph, I'm glad you had a good Christmas with your children! Sorry about the rest, other than getting to see Cliff and Marilyn of course!!
I do not have an air compressor, but I do have a bicycle pump. I probably would never have thought to use it in the event of a flat tire. Now I would! Nah, I'd call AAA!
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